Amusement device

ABSTRACT

An amusement device having a rotating carriage and means for rotating the carriage. A plurality of spaced apart sliding members is connected to the rotating carriage. A plurality of magnetic actuators, act upon the sliding members as the sliding members rotate relative to the magnetic actuators. An electromagnetic force applied by the magnetic actuators to the sliding members causes the device to lift.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The contents of Provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60/487,751 filed Jul. 16, 2003 and U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 10/892,980 filed Jul. 16, 2004, on which the present application is based and benefit claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an amusement device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device including a rotating carriage supported within a frame and adapted to provide centrifugal force to the rotating carriage to lift the frame upward.

2. Description of Related Art

Devices that have the ability to lift themselves from a surface are known. These devices range from simple amusement devices to sophisticated lifting devices. Accordingly, such devices are of interest to many people for their amusement value if for no other reason. For example, such devices may impart a centrifugal force for simulating weightlessness. These devices are varied. One such device, often found at carnivals, is a spinning cylinder wherein persons are lined along a wall and the floor of the cylinder lowers as the centrifugal force holds the persons against the wall while the cylinder spins. Another device that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,500, combines spinning and rotating a user in a seat to simulate weightlessness. Additionally, uses of devices producing weightlessness have even been envisioned as propulsion systems for a vehicle.

It is therefore the general object of the present invention to provide an improved spinning device designed so that the device is capable of lifting from a surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device simulating weightlessness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention the device includes a frame having a rotating carriage contained positioned within the frame and a means for spinning the carriage. Evenly spaced apart sliding members mounted on rods are connected to the rotating carriage. As the carriage is caused to spin, the sliding members slide relative to the rods. The rods are preferably angled at 17° to 30° from the vertical.

A plurality of magnetic actuators mounted under the top platform of the frame act upon the sliding members as the sliding members rotate relative to the magnetic actuators. The force applied by the magnetic actuators to the sliding members causes the device to lift from the surface on which it is placed. As rotation of the carriage is slowed the sliding members will slide toward the bottom of the device causing the device to drop toward the surface to the amusement of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1, showing the initial rotation and action of the actuators;

FIG. 3 illustrates the device of FIG. 2, demonstrating the device rotating at a preferred speed to produce lift;

FIG. 4 is a sectioned view of the device of the present invention taken essentially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be through and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to the elements throughout.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the device 10 of the present invention in a static position and at rest. The device 10 includes a frame 12, a rotating carriage 20 contained in the frame, and a means 30 for spinning the rotating carriage. The frame 12 includes vertical supports 14, angle braces 15, support platform 16, and frame bottom member 17.

As stated, the rotating carriage 20 is contained within frame 12. In the embodiment as shown, the rotating carriage 20 includes a rotator 22 extending upward through support platform 16 to connector 33 and downward to the bottom member 17 where the base of rod 22 is inserted into a gimbal 23 forming an axis for the rotating carriage to spin around. The rotating carriage 20 has a carriage base plate 24, aligned on and fixed to rod 22 and a carriage top 26 also aligned on and fixed to rod 22. As will be explained in greater detail below located between carriage base 24 and carriage top 26 are a plurality of sliding members 25. The plurality of sliding members 25 are evenly spaced apart, so that when, for example, four sliding members are used, the members are spaced apart at substantially ninety (90) degrees from each other, such as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, as discussed in greater detail below, in another example of the device there may be six sliding members.

Means 30 are provided to cause the rotating carriage 20 to spin on its axis. The rotating means 30 includes housing 32 having connector 33 in the lower portion thereof, a transmission section 36 and a motor 34. The rotation of carriage 20 may be by any known device for causing rotation, such as electric motor 34. It is preferred that the motor have a high ratio of torque output to weight when operating at the ideal rotation speed. The electric motor 34 may be powered by a self-contained battery source, or an external electrical source. In some embodiments, a nuclear generator may be used to provide power to the electric motor, so that the device is self-contained. As shown, a gear box 36 or transmission is used to produce the ideal rotation speed. In a preferred embodiment, the gear box 36 (and its associated weight) is eliminated, when the motor produces the preferred revolution speed of the rotating carriage, with adequate torque, so that the added weight of the gear box is eliminated.

A plurality of the magnetic actuators 28 are spaced apart and mounted under the support platform 16 of frame 12. As shown in the drawings, the magnetic actuators 28 are positioned above the sliding members 25, and are fixed relative to the sliding members. The magnetic actuators 28 are evenly spaced apart, and in the embodiment shown in the drawing figures, there are six (6) actuators. Accordingly, the actuators 28 are spaced approximately 60° apart. The magnetic actuators 28 exert a repelling force on the sliding members 25 as the sliding members rotate relative to the magnetic actuators. The magnetic actuators may be permanent magnets, but are preferred to be electromagnets.

As shown in the drawings, the sliding members 25 are mounted on rods 27. The sliding members 25 slide relative to the rods 27. The rods 27 are preferred to be angled at 15° to 30°, and are particularly preferred to be angled at about 22°, as shown in FIG. 1, which provides a mechanical advantage to the device. When the device is at rest, i.e., not spinning, the weight of the sliding members 25 causes the member 25 to fall to the bottom of the rods 14, and against a stop at the bottom of the rods 27 located on carriage base 24.

The magnetic actuators 28 are angled from the horizontal position at 22°, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the magnetic actuators 28 are at a right angle to the rods 27. In use, the rotating carriage 20 is actuated to begin to spin the carriage around rotator 22. As shown in FIG. 2, as rotation begins, the sliding members 25 begin to travel upwardly along their respective rods 27, causing the device 10 to rise due to the centrifugal force applied by rotation. For example, FIG. 3 shows the device 10 after the rotation speed has increased to the desired rotation speed. One of the sliding members 25, shown on rod 27, which is between the magnetic actuators 28 and carriage base 24, is pushed upward by centrifugal force.

As the sliding members rotate 25 underneath the magnetic actuator 28, they come under the influence of the magnetic field produced by the magnetic actuator. The magnetic actuator forces the sliding members 25 downward. The magnetic force that pushes the sliding members down creates an equal and opposite reaction, meaning that the magnetic actuators are forced in the opposite direction of the sliding members.

The device 10 as shown in the drawings, produces a rotational arc of relatively small diameter. As the device is enlarged so that the sliding members rotate through an arc having an extremely large radius, additional sliding members may be employed. Sliding members are preferred to be evenly spaced apart. For example, if twelve members are employed, the sliding members are spaced approximately 30° apart. If additional sliding members are employed, additional magnetic actuators are also employed, due to the larger radius through which the sliding members rotate. The magnetic actuators are preferred to be relatively evenly spaced apart, so that if eighteen magnetic actuators are used, the magnetic actuators are spaced apart at approximately 20°.

The ideal rotation speed of the device is determined by the size of the device, the number of sliding members used, the number of actuators used, the length of the rods, and the weight of the sliding members. The speed of rotation must be not be too fast, so that the sliding members will have time to rise substantially to the top of their travel along the rods as the sliding members travel between the magnetic actuators. If the rotation speed is too slow, adequate centrifugal force for full lift will not be provided and the device will not lift from the surface. The more frequently the weight of the sliding members is moved by the magnetic force from the magnetic actuator, the greater the lifting force that is provided within a given period of time. On the other hand, if the rotation speed is too fast, allowing the sliding members to travel substantially to the top of the rods, while the sliding members are between the actuators, then the full advantage of the downward propulsion of the sliding members (and the upward movement of the frame) by the magnetic actuators is not achieved.

As shown in FIG. 1, the preferred angle from vertical for the rods upon which the sliding members travel is 22°. 22° provides an angle that causes the sliding members to travel, due to centrifugal force, but is sufficiently vertical to achieve the lifting function of the device. For example, if the rods were completely vertical, the sliding members would not be materially displaced by centrifugal force. On the other hand, if the sliding members were substantially horizontal, the magnetic force against them would not cause the device to lift. It should be understood that as the vertical angle of rods 27 change from the vertical, the angle of the magnetic actuators 28 will change to that the magnetic actuators will be perpendicular to the rods, i.e., at 90°.

At 22°, the sliding members move substantially 2.5 units along the y-axis, so as to provide lift, for every one (1) unit that they travel in the x-axis. The angle of travel of the pistons should be not less than 15° from the vertical and not more than 35° from the vertical. The magnetic actuators should be positioned so as to provide efficient and complete actuation of the sliding members. Accordingly, with sliding members that weigh 7 kg., traveling along the rods at 22°, 2 kg. of this mass is directed along the x-axis, while 5 kg. of this mass is directed along the y-axis, providing lift. This assumes that there is no loss of effective mass transfer due to friction or other resistance.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the device using electromagnets as the actuators 128. In this embodiment, the device includes a frame 112, a rotating carriage contained in the frame, and a means 134 located within housing 132 for spinning the rotating carriage. The frame 112 includes vertical supports 114, angle braces 115, support platform 116, and frame bottom member 117. The rotating carriage includes a rotator shown as vertical rod 122 extending upward through support platform 116 to a connector and downward to the bottom member 117 where the base of rod 122 is inserted into a gimbal forming an axis for the rotating carriage to spin around. The rotating carriage has a carriage base, plate 124, aligned on and fixed to rotator 122 and a carriage top also aligned on and fixed to rod 122. Located between carriage base 124 and the carriage top are a plurality of evenly spaced apart sliding members 125. The actuators 128 are mounted to the carriage top of the rotating carriage and above each of the sliding members 125. In FIG. 5, above sliding members 125 are mounted the electromagnetic actuators 128 to act upon each sliding member and push it downward at predetermined intervals. Electrical contacts 140 acting upon a distributor 142 that rotates with the rotating carriage may provide power to the magnetic actuators at intervals determined by the position of the contacts. A solid-state circuit may be provided to periodically actuate actuators. In this embodiment, one actuator is provided for each sliding member, with the number of sliding members determined as discussed herein.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. 

1. An amusement device, comprising: (a) a frame having vertical supports, a support platform and a frame bottom member; (b) a rotating carriage that is located within said frame having a carriage base plate and a carriage top and includes a rotator about which the rotating carriage is mounted, said rotator extending upward through said support platform; (c) a plurality of evenly spaced apart sliding members, wherein said sliding members are slidably connected on rods between carriage base plate and a carriage top said, rods being disposed at an angle from the vertical of between 15° and 35°; (d) a plurality of magnetic actuators that are evenly spaced apart and mounted under said support platform and act upon said sliding members as said sliding members rotate relative to said magnetic actuators; and (e) means for rotating said carriage connected to said rotator so as to cause said device to lift from the surface on which it is placed.
 2. The lifting device as described in claim 1, wherein each of said sliding members travel along a line that is 22° from said vertical axis.
 3. The lifting device as described in claim 1, wherein said plurality of magnetic actuators do not rotate at the same rate of rotation as said sliding members.
 4. The lifting device as described in claim 1, said lifting device comprising at least four sliding members.
 5. The lifting device as described in claim 1, said lifting device comprising at least four magnetic actuators.
 6. A lifting device, comprising: (a) a frame having vertical supports, a support platform and a frame bottom member; (b) a rotating carriage that is located within said frame having a carriage base plate and a carriage top and includes a rotator about which the rotating carriage is mounted, said rotator extending upward through said support platform; (c) a plurality of evenly spaced apart sliding members, wherein said sliding members are slidably connected on rods between carriage base plate and a carriage top said, rods being disposed at an angle from the vertical of between 15° and 35°; (d) a plurality of magnetic actuators that are evenly spaced apart and mounted under said support platform and act upon said sliding members as said sliding members rotate relative to said magnetic actuators; and (e) means for rotating said carriage connected to said rotator, wherein each of said plurality of magnetic actuators force said sliding members downwardly at predetermined intervals.
 7. The lifting device as described in claim 6, wherein each of said sliding members travel along a line that is 22° from said vertical axis.
 8. The lifting device as described in claim 6, wherein said pluralities of magnetic actuators do not rotate at the same rate of rotation as said sliding members.
 9. The lifting device as described in claim 6, said lifting device comprising at least four sliding members.
 10. The lifting device as described in claim 6, said lifting device comprising at least four magnetic actuators.
 11. The lifting device as described in claim 6, wherein said actuators are located upon said rotating carriage.
 12. The lifting device as described in claim 11, wherein one of said actuators is positioned above each of said sliding members. 